The first-time general manager completed a four-year, $20 million deal with Derek Cox, the agreement arriving into the night and several hours after cornerback Jerraud Powers signed with the Cardinals. The contract carries a $5.2 million signing bonus with $10.25 million in guarantees, the amounts paid in the first two seasons.

Powers was scheduled to visit San Diego late Wednesday afternoon, but the former Colt spent his morning in Arizona and chose not to leave.

It was Powers’ first game-changing play of the year.

He and Cox were part of a cluster of cornerbacks the Chargers targeted in free agency, and when Powers was lost, some urgency was added. Telesco and the front office stepped up their efforts with the former Jaguar, and a deal was reached after darkness fell over Murphy Canyon — or about the time a San Diego restaurant waiter was supposed to be asking Powers, “Sir, what will it be?”

Numbers were moved. A three-year deal became a four-year deal.

They made it work.

In a way, the late-night deal was poetic justice.

Cox, 26, was scheduled to visit the Saints today before stopping by the Chargers on Friday. His agreement to contract terms — the deal cannot be signed until today, pending a team physical — causes another NFL team to learn the hard way that a visit won’t happen.

It won’t be the Chargers, this time, on the short end.

Cox had 60 tackles and four interceptions in 12 games last season while allowing just one score. His 12 interceptions in four seasons are more than double the next closest Jacksonville defender over that period. In 2011, his best career stretch came in the six games before a knee injury ended his season. He allowed a quarterback rating of 44.5, best among all NFL players at his position, according to Pro Football Focus.

Quietly done

At the team facility’s media center, three new Chargers players were introduced Wednesday to reporters, and like the moves themselves, the press conference came with little fanfare.

That’s about right.

They were never supposed to be those types of moves.

Tight end John Phillips, guard Chad Rinehart and tackle King Dunlap won’t be on the cover of any season-ticket packets. But for certain, the team long targeted the newest additions, believing they’ll strengthen the roster, providing more depth and competition on the offensive line and adding a physicality at tight end.

Dunlap is not expected to be the team’s Week 1 tackle in 2013, but it was seen in 2012 how quick offseason plans can change.

About this time last year, Jared Gaither stood before media, staring at cameras, a small lake of sweat gathered on his forehead. To Gaither’s left against the wall, then-coach Norv Turner poked fun at the 6-foot-9 lineman’s perspiration in the packed Chargers team room.

There was no backup plan. At least, there was little investment in one.